Just changed my plugs and thanks to the special tool, life was way easy! It really isn't that bad and you DO NOT have to remove the plenum. I don't even think removing it will give more room. Just a tip

Just changed my plugs and thanks to the special tool, life was way easy! It really isn't that bad and you DO NOT have to remove the plenum. I don't even think removing it will give more room. Just a tip

Thanks TxStig!

Great! Glad it worked out well for you. Thanks for the positive feedback on them.

I did not need to remove the plenum either. I found it to be pretty easy.

How long did it take you including removal and replacement of the airbox?

Okay peeps I have seventeen pullers left out of the second batch of fifty. I have now found a US supplier and plan on ordering 80 more if I manage to get the rest of these sold. They are selling about one or two every other day so I expect to be out of stock in the next month. If you want one and I have not posted on here that they are all gone. Just drop me a private message or send the money to my paypal price is $35 shipped.

Great! Glad it worked out well for you. Thanks for the positive feedback on them.

I did not need to remove the plenum either. I found it to be pretty easy.

How long did it take you including removal and replacement of the airbox?

Thanks,

TxStig

If I didn't run into my little issue (it's in the engine section under engine Malf.) it only took under 2 hours, doing everything carefully and slowly. Also figuring the best way to do something took sometime. I estimate I can finish the job under an hour an half now that I know wth I'm doing lol

NGK spark plugs are retailing at $42 at the dealer, and cannot be bought anywhere else in Australia. It's crazy. If I didn't have Peter's tool it would have cost labour $200 at least for an hour, and all up over $500.

The local Autopro shop use to carry it and retailed at $30, but due to lack of sales they had got rid of hem for $16 and no longer carry.

NGK spark plugs are retailing at $42 at the dealer, and cannot be bought anywhere else in Australia. It's crazy. If I didn't have Peter's tool it would have cost labour $200 at least for an hour, and all up over $500.

The local Autopro shop use to carry it and retailed at $30, but due to lack of sales they had got rid of hem for $16 and no longer carry.

dont you have amazon? or ebay.. try rock auto they might ship out to Australia

Aussie M3 I apologize I wish I had known you could not find plugs. I bought an extra set when I did mine. I woild of gladly gicen them to you for the price I got them and shipped them over to you with the puller. Probably would not have cost much more in shipping. Next time you need something let me know and I can price it out and see if we can save you some money.

Division M will be releasing an underdrive pulley with similar specs to the Dinan except much cheaper in the near future...we may also offer a titanium version...for the super lightweight addicts....

Peter, thank you and you don't have to apologise. All is good. I am looking forward to changing the plugs soon. I am looking forward to the experience. I am doing more and more on the car given the exorbitant price the dealers are charging for maintenance and service.

People like yourself, and Mike Benvo, and the knowledge shared within the forum's DIY section is of enormous help and makes the ///3 ownership a happy one.

I bought two sets (16 s/plugs) from USA shipped to Australia cost me $188. That is cheaper than getting one set through the dealer. This means I'll be doing the spark plug changes too thanks to Peter's tool. Watch this space for any drama!

I bought two sets (16 s/plugs) from USA shipped to Australia cost me $188. That is cheaper than getting one set through the dealer. This means I'll be doing the spark plug changes too thanks to Peter's tool. Watch this space for any drama!

Hey if you have time, can you check your gap? I found mine pretty much on the money out of the box, but I've heard some are mis-gapped. I was wondering if the gap inaccuracies were the reason there was a BMW part number, maybe they are made to spec by NGK but runs further checks on them?

Hey if you have time, can you check your gap? I found mine pretty much on the money out of the box, but I've heard some are mis-gapped. I was wondering if the gap inaccuracies were the reason there was a BMW part number, maybe they are made to spec by NGK but runs further checks on them?

So what's the gap (mm) I am looking for? I think it's all about making money. I saw the packaging at the dealer. It was a standard BMW box with the same spark plug in it. I am going to the dealer today for comparison and will post pics later.

Hey if you have time, can you check your gap? I found mine pretty much on the money out of the box, but I've heard some are mis-gapped. I was wondering if the gap inaccuracies were the reason there was a BMW part number, maybe they are made to spec by NGK but runs further checks on them?

So what's the gap (mm) I am looking for? I think it's all about making money. I saw the packaging at the dealer. It was a standard BMW box with the same spark plug in it. I am going to the dealer today for comparison and will post pics later.

.032 is what I was told you're probably correct that there is profit involved.

Me and a buddy of mine (factory master tech) did the job in a little over an hour today. Used an array of long, stiff, strategically bent, large diameter picks to loosen the coils. Prying them up between the coil and the head, not from the knob on top. Worked quite well. Also used an array of extension and universal joints to remove the plugs. Did not have to touch the coolant reservoir. Sorry, no pics.

Finally changed the spark plugs today at 37k km. The rear ones - close to the firewall - were extremely hard to remove and were seated very tight, and so were the other. The plumbing around the back ones made it even harder. I have bursitis in my left shoulder and didn't help in terms of strength. Even with the tool the rear ones wouldn't budge. Had to use an improvised tool in the form of a wire, and looped it under the neck of the coil and pulled them out. This was very easy. I took the whole process slowly.

Here are some pics of the spark plugs removed. I am not an expert on spark plugs and their wear. Hope someone can comment. They look in pretty bad condition to me.

BMW refused to do this under warranty or all maintenance included. My car has 25,000 miles and is idling erratically. I just did two on the drivers side in the front, seems my 3/8" ratchet is missing...

Already a big difference in idle quality.

There are a bunch of software updates the car needs that they refused to do, the plugs and anything else to diagnose the erratic idle. BMW USA states it is normal procedure for the customer to pay for the diagnosis at $145 per hour at the dealer even if the work is then performed under warranty.

Bob Smith BMW said I need to get a $299 fuel injector cleaning in order for them to even look at the car under warranty.

I am suing both BMW USA and Bob Smith BMW. I didn't spend $70,000 on a car to be treated like this.

Just finished this job today. This was not an easy job.txstigs puller works good on all coils but the rears near the firewall. Took me about 2 1/2 hours. I broke one of the coils trying to pull it out it was so tight. The coils and plugs near the firewall were extremely difficult to remove. I had to use a hanger to get the coils off near the firewall. I can change my plugs in my 98 Z3 with my eyes closed in about 15 minutes.

I think with this tool the rear plugs near the firewall would be much much easier. This tool is a must next time I change my plugs:

So if the head of the ignition coils break off, what the best way to get them out? I was all excited to get this job done and luckily decided to start on the passenger's side since it seems that's the harder side. I take the cover off and this is what I see

The head on the first two coils are broken off. The last time this was worked on was at 30,000 by my local dealer. So pissed! I contacted the dealer to see if they will replace the coils but being that I'm out of warranty by quite a bit (67,000 miles) and that 30,000 mile replacement happened in October 2010, I doubt I'll get anything out of them. I'd almost rather they just give me the new coils and let me install it but I have no idea how I'm going to get those broken ones off now.